December 4, 2002	Wednesday	Ramazan 28,1423

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QUETTA, Dec 3: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousaf has ordered the provincial home department to release all prisoners belonging to the defunct religious outfits in the province before Eid.

“All prisoners of the defunct religious parties detained in different prisons should be released immediately,” Jam Yousaf told the department on Tuesday.

He said that legal formalities should be completed without any delay so the prisoners could celebrate Eid with their families.

The military govt had arrested leaders and activists of the Sipah-i-Sahaba, Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, Sipah-i-Mohammad and Tekhrik-i-Jafaria in Balochistan after banning these groups.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf had put a ban on these parties claiming that they were involved in sectarian killings and terrorist activities in the country. The US and other European countries had lauded the Musharraf’s decision.

Official sources said that in view of the chief minister’s orders the home department had sought information from different jails about the these prisoners. They could be released on Wednesday, the sources added.

The chief minister has also announced a two-month general remission on the eve of Eid. However, the prisoners involved in the anti-state activities, murders, terrorism and other heinous crimes are not entitled for remission.